Faced with the need to slice $5 million to $6 million from next school year’s budget, the School District 65 Board of Education has voted to put two more teachers on the “Reduction in Force” (RIF) list.
The board’s decision Monday afternoon brings the total number of job cuts for 2024-25 to 21.
Last month, the board decided to let 19 employees go — six teachers, nine educational support staffers and four administrators.
The school board’s Monday resolution did not reveal the latest number of “riffed” workers, but after making a request, Evanston Now was informed by the district that the decision covers two people.
In an emailed statement, district spokesperson Melissa Messinger said the school system is trying to minimize layoffs, as D65 “went through great lengths to ensure that the vast majority of personnel related reductions could be made through attrition, retirement, and the closing of vacant positions.”
“There are no easy decisions when they impact people,” Messinger added, noting that the job cut decisions were made in collaboration with union leaders.
An overall budget reduction plan will be presented in a meeting April 15.
Besides cutting jobs on Monday, the school board also cut Superintendent Angela Turner a break on where she can live.
The board officially suspended the requirement that the superintendent live within District 65.
The suspension will last during Turner’s time in office, and “during that time, the board will review the adequacy” of keeping the residency rule on the books, according to a board statement.
Board member Donna Wang Su said, “There is definite value in having an Evanston/Skokie resident, but there’s a lot more value in having someone committed to the community, which is what we have seen Dr. Turner do.”
Turner, a non-district resident, said she is indeed “totally committed 100% to do the job. I show up and go above and beyond to serve the district,” she added.
Tuner’s predecessor, Devon Horton, was required to live in the district, and was even given a moving allowance.
However, Horton was coming here from out of town.
Turner was hired by District 65 several years ago, for a position which did not have a residency rule. She was later promoted to interim superintendent after Horton left, and then to superintendent earlier this year.
Turner is making $250,000 annually.